The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-24

the start to the end. Husband and wife were
wrapped up in each other and in their children
For the first year or two Prince Albert was not
present at the meetings between the Queen ana
her Ministers; but afterward he was always ex-
pected at the council table. But their napplest
times were when they were playing together-
both were accomplished musicians or eIcning
portraits of their children: singing under the
sutorship of Labiache. Albert lalo down Ior
himself two rules, in order to silence scanoai,
which had been so rife under previous reigns:
and likewise to obviate jealousy on the part OF
his wife-he would pay no visits and would 90
nowhere unattended by an equerry. inns was
his rule through life, and it accomplished his OBJ
iect No breath of scandal ever furnished his
reputation.
Twenty years ago the queen published q vol
ume containing her diary during her journey to
Scotland, and fifteen years later this was fol-
lowed by a second volume on the same subject,
coming down TO 1882. The books are interesting
because they constitute forty years diary writ
ten by queen regnant The thoughts are
trivial, the observations trite, the style nncui-
cured; they reflect the mind of commonplace,
honest, kindly woman, who might nave oeen as
much at home as the wife of retail grocer as
the Queen of England and the Empress OF inoia
Thus she tells MS: II ate some oatmeal porrldge
for breakfast and found it very nice;" II saw q
woman in the river with her dress tucked M al
most to her knees. washing potatoes; dundee
10 very large place; the situation or the town is
very fine, but the town itself Is not so; ALBERT
observed that ir was always said that parents
lived their lives over again in their children,
which is a very pleasant feeling" with hundreds
marks Still, it is pleasant to read
q queens remark that during the voyage was
always able TO give Vicky (the present Crown
Princess OF Germany her lessons" and II
plways try, when possible, to hear the children
kheir prayers myself" On the occasion OF the
death of the Duke OF Wellington the Queen
rises above her usual level in few noble SEN
fences expressing her loss. And the account OF
The betrothal Of the Princess Victoria Is so neat
that we must quote it: Prince Frederick Wiii-
lam of Prussia had already spoken to us of his
wishes with regard to our dear Victoria, but we
were uncertain, on account OF her extreme youth,
whether he should speak to her himself or wait
till he came back again. However, we felt 1t
better he should do so; and during our ride this
afternoon he picked piece of white heather
tho emblem of good luck-which he gave to
her. and this enabled him to make alluson to
his hopes and wishes as they rode down the glen
which led to the happy conclusion" There isn't
much difference, when 1t comes to wooing,
between princes and cobblers.
The diary, read in connection with other pub
locations by the Queen, shows rs two sides OF
her character. One is the good kindly woman,
going round with flannel petticoats for old
women and passionately devoted to her chill
drsn; the other is the monarch, keenly attentive
to public business. She is interesting in both
points Of view. Perhaps the most pathetic pas
sages Of the diary are those in which she de-
,scribes the receipt OF the news OF the death OF
tthe Prince Imperial Whether or no he was en-
gagged to the Princess Beatrice, there can be no
doubt taat both the Queen and her daughter
were very fond of him. The news could not
shave shocked them more had it been that of the
death of one of their own family. 1t reached the
Queen on the eve of the anniversary of her ac-
session; but, as she says, she had no heart for
solicitations. All gala was postponed. Another
pleasant picture Is the receipt Of the news of
the battle Of Tel-el-Kebir. The Queen,
of Connaueht, were staying at Balmoral
when Wolseleys telegram announcing
the victory reached her Majesty.
He took care to mention that the Duke of Con-
naughr had distinguished himself and was safe.
Straight these two women. his mother and his
wife. fell upon each others necks and wept in
concert, as women will do, on receipt of good or
bad news, either. A few days afterward the
mails came, and Louisa had a long letter from
the Duke. The Queen went to her room and
dear Louischen read me parts OF Arthur's
letter" parts" is good.
At the beginning Of this paper it was said that
the Queen began public life as Wing. She
must, in Lord Melbourne's phrase, Hold out
the olive branch to the Tories" Albert speedily
took strictly non-partissn position. and, after
time che followed his example. Indeed, from
about 1s45. she has taken little part in domestic
politics Whatever Minister Parliament wanted
was acceptable to hsr. But she has always
taken an active part In foreign politics. Indeed,
it might be said of her, to some extent, that
she has always been her own Foreign Minister.
She has more than once-as in the Don Pacifico
afair-given away against her judgment
to the Ministry of the day, but never
without remonstrance When Lord Pamerston
sent foreign dispatches without consulting her,
che protested, and directed him in writing not
only to communicate all dispatches to her before
sending them off, but to give the Queen reas-
enable time TO acqualnt nerseI1 with tnelr con-
tents" When Palmerston neglected to comply
with this request, she insisted his resignation.
When Lord John Russell wrote an irritating
dispatch on the Trent affair, intending to pro-
woke this country into war, she and Prince
Albert modified ii, and insisted on its being sent
ms modified The theory of the British consti-
tutional system is that the monarch is puppet
in the hands of the Ministry; but Queen Victoria,
in foreign matters, has decided will of her own,
and few British statesmen care to test the
tent of her prerogative.
The Queens life has been divided thus far
into three parts: her childhood, eighteen years;
her married life, twenty-o years; her widow
hood twenty-six years Ii, as is possible. she
should live to the age of the German Emperor,
she would have fourth period of over twenty
years of possible usefulness.